The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-06
SPEAKS OF the Beneficial Effects OF
the "Ippeal's" Reports OF the
Real Nature Of the Case
AGAINST UNITED STATES CON-
MISSlONERS In ALABAMA,
Who BY Fraudulent Zee Taking Are
Making Themselves Rich at
the Pablo Expense
4 GENERAL REVIEW OF THE
NATIONAL DRILL.
From a Military Standpoint It Was
as Successful rs Could Have
Been Expected.
larno1AL TO rHE LprILL.l

BUREAU or THE MEMPHIS APPEAL,
No. 5l4 THIRTKKETH STREET, WASH
INGroN, June 5.-District Attorney
VIM. A. benson, OF Alabama, wal in
the city Thursday, and was talking OF
beneficial effects produced in his sec
ton of the country by the publication
ia these dispatches to the APPEAL OF
the real nature OF the care against the
United States Commissioners OF the
Northern District of Alabama, who,
bys fraudulent system OF fee tsbir z
are making themselves rich al the
public expense. He said: "The AP
PRAL circu ates very largely through
Alabama, and that article was widely
read. 1t showed very clearly that
Comptroller Durham is determined In
his efforts 10 suppress the in'quitioue
fee system which has sprung up in
that district, and its effects have been
salutary for that reason. have de.
termined to assist "a far as possible in
the good work, and expect soon to
have several OF the obi sctionable
Commissioners removed from Office"
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
There is considerable talk OF q par
tisan kind in the Republican and
other newspapers OF the country in
regard to the alleged lack of interest
manilested in his work by Secrstary
of the Navy Whitney. II has been
been stated that the plans for the 5000
ton armored battle ships might have
been decided upon and work upon
those vessels commenced By this time
il the Secretary had only remained at
home attending to his departmental
duties instead Of gadding around the
country; that he had been away from
his Office two.tAirds Of the time since
the adjournment OF Congress, and that
departmental business has been de-
layed in consequence. OF course these
things have their only basis in the
fertile imagination OF the writers OF
them, and it would have spoiled the
story to have made any investigation
into the truth or falsity of the reports.
As matter Of fact the Secretary has
been absent from the city twice since
Congress adjourned, each time
on public business. Oiher times
when he has been reported
absent he has been hard at work
at his house in this city upon business
which ID was impossible for him to at
tend to at the department, on account
OF the continual Interruptions to which
he was constantly subjected. He has
lust returned from ais second trip
away from Washington, having been
to New York on business connectt d
with the navy yard there.
good STORY Is TOLD ON WILLIAM Ii.
eRwARD,
when he was 50 rotary OF State. He
used to write almost as bad hand ss
the late lamented Horace Greeley,
and there were but three per
sons in tue department who could
read his hieroglyphios-Mr. Chew,
Harry Pratt and DR.. f. U. st GAR,
the pref ent chief Of the Consular
Bureau. The other employees OF the
department would come to one of
these gentlemen to have the instruc-
ton OF the Secretary translated for
them. One day note, relative to
consular dispatch, was brought to DR..
st. Clair to read. He puzzled over it
for time, but had to give II up.
1t WAS then taken to Mr.. Chew with
the same result, and Harry Pratt, who
was considered the best of the dc
cipkerere, was no more successful.
Finally the note was taken to SeCre-
tary Saward with request that he
should explain what he had written.
HIM, l thought that my writing
was clear enough for any one to read (;
let's see it," and the old gentleman
proceeded to read With great volubili-
ty. All at once he came TO full stop.
After looking at it for some time, he
said: "Whst is this dispatch about,
anyway" Ga being told, he said /:
"0h, well, let that note OF mine go,
and I'll write it over again." There
are few people who, while writing,
can give directions about something
entirely foreign to what they are wri.
ting about without stopping, yet Mr.,
Seward used to do 1t right elong.
THE NATIONAL DRILL,
from which 30 much was expected
has ended. From military etgnd
point II was al successful rs Conld
have been expected under all the
circumstances. Gen. Augur, who
was the commandment OF the camp
was supported by corps Of aids whC
did all that was possible to make the
camp as attractive to the VISITING
spectators and as beneficial to the
military ss it was designed to he. Thu
fact that it was not under strict mill
tary discipline was due solely to tbs
fact that the troops were responsible
only to the Governors Of the S.ateI
under whom they serve; and theI
only while under the jurisdiction O
those Governors. The United States
has no authority over State troopI
whatever until those troops are regu
4srly mustered in the service Of thu
general government. Still, on tn,
whole there was as much order anC
discipline ,in Camp George Washing
ton as could have been expected
From the standpoint Of finance, too
the affair has been successful.
burglar who follows his I'pro
fession" for years without gettin
into the meshes Of the law 1
usually successful financially. Thu
Drill Committee, those who had charg
OF the financial arrangements, carriel
out their portion Of the work yer,
much % a successful burglar woult
carry out his plans. They had bu
one aim in view. That was to max
money out of this much advertise,
''Na'ioDal" drill. To do this the,
robbed the public as unceremoniousl;
as the lamented Claude Duval woul,
have accomplished the same object
They would advertise grand dres
parade" and then would order half
dozen companies ont 10 take part II
il. By this method the dress psrad
would be stretched out for week
People who paid their money expect
ing TO see the entire enoampment on
in full uniform went away dispuste,
after seeing 200 or $50 men drawn nj
into line on the field. On the day ee
for the competitive battalion drill 500
people paid % cents each to re-
dt, and two-thirds Of them CAV